Ratings: NBA Steals Christmas Day Primetime for ABC

The NBA handed ABC a nice Nielsen ratings present Tuesday night, with its anticipated Christmas Day game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. The holiday matchup easily topped all other primetime broadcast programming — which was mostly comprised of repeats on the other Big 4 networks — in both the all-important adults 18-49 demographic and total viewers for the evening.

The Lakers’ victory over the Warriors is up slightly in preliminary numbers compared to last year’s Christmas Day NBA game on ABC, which was a clash between the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. This year’s game (which was broadcast on both ABC and ESPN) is up 5 percent in the key demo (1.9 rating vs. 1.8 rating) and 7 percent in overall eyeballs (5.872 million total viewers vs. 5.463 million total viewers).

ABC was first in ratings with a 1.9 rating/8 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 5.9 million, according to preliminary numbers. The Lakers-Warriors game filled primetime.

NBC was second in ratings with a 0.8/4 and third in viewers with 3.1 million. At 8 p.m., the animated classic “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” had a 0.7/3 and 3 million viewers. From 8:30-11, the 2000 live-action film “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” posted a 0.9 and 3.2 million viewers.

TV advertisers may be in love with adults 18-49, but within that demo is a more narrow group of tastemakers broadcasters covet: millennials. Yes, when the 22-37 range isn't streaming something, they are (occasionally) watching shows on CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC. Here TheWrap rounds up 2018's 15 highest-rated shows among that group, according to the "most current" data set from Nielsen through Dec. 9. This ranking excludes news, sports, repeats, specials and awards/pageants. It includes one week of delayed viewing where available

Give “Fortnite” a rest and read this on your phones, 22- to 37-year-olds

TV advertisers may be in love with adults 18-49, but within that demo is a more narrow group of tastemakers broadcasters covet: millennials. Yes, when the 22-37 range isn't streaming something, they are (occasionally) watching shows on CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC. Here TheWrap rounds up 2018's 15 highest-rated shows among that group, according to the "most current" data set from Nielsen through Dec. 9. This ranking excludes news, sports, repeats, specials and awards/pageants. It includes one week of delayed viewing where available